Springtime In the Portfolio

Before I start my painting today, I wanted to share Emily and her fat old cat, Mimo. They are new to my online portfolio (the latest from a batch of Sleepover book 5).

I've added a few new things to the portfolio too, did some spring cleaning (a GIANT thank you to Anthony at Shannon Associates). Things are growing, with the production of a lot of work for new assignments, a ton of learning and experimenting, and differing art direction from piece to piece.

Recently, each addition to my portfolio seems to be an extension of a developing style, based on the need for a particular voice for each story. From Pony the Hat, to the Riven Kingdom cover for Little Brown, to the cover for Scholastic's Sunny Holiday, they all seem to be working in dispersing directions. Perhaps they are just new little buds all growing toward the same light -time will tell. I am excited to watch where I am directed to next, without holding any reins too tightly. It is exhilarating for me to work in a range of voices. I love to keep all of it pliable and fertile; keeping style a living and breathing thing of its own.

I wonder if this piece today will give me another little clue as to where this little garden is growing to.

"Mornin', Cowboys!"

A few weeks ago, illustrator bud, Emily Goodale, and I decided to each make our own secret version of the plucky little girl named "Pony the Hat" from Erich Kastner's translated story, Emil and the Detectives. There is absolutely no explanation for her nickname throughout the text. Pony was so genuine and silly we couldn't contain our love for her, so we both decided to draw her.

For most of the story, Pony exists on a bicycle in a gang of boy sleuths, assisting them in tracking down a thief in the middle of Berlin (pre-WWII) She is the cousin of the protagonist, Emil Tabletoe. As a relayer of information between a worried grandmother and Emil's gang, Pony rides her nickel-plated bike to and from the city, thermoses of coffee and treats in tow for her boys. An essential part of the caper, she is often exclaiming things like, "Well, there's nothing like having a woman around the house." Keep in mind she is probably no older than 10 and likes wrestling more than her cousin.

We JUST revealed them to each other last week and decided to make a simultaneous post tonight for everyone to see! So here is my Pony, and here is Emily's.

P.S. Neither of us spoke of using a yellow dress or even hair and look what happened!

Post-Bunny Party Post

Hi there. So the cake came out well (look at the face slice!) Everyone really got into the theme with things brought and given and eaten. But really, the bunny to inspire it all was Marshmallow.

There were interesting gifts, including a tiny bunny in a cage from friend Emily, the book Prairie Girl's Guide to Life- Pioneer Project for the Modern Girl from sister Christa (right up our Frontier-loving alley) and many other thoughtful things. Look at the picture of the bag my friend Lee made for me. He put crazy leaping bunnies all over it and included a tag with the best rabbit story he wrote as well. Thanks everyone :)

On the work front: working on updating the portfolio again, working on new book covers, picture books. Had a great meeting at Candlewick this morning to go over my dummy. The book arrives in 2010!

Busy Bunny

I am busy with multiple books, covers, paintings, and work! I am still alive!

On the personal front, I just had a birthday in the midst of it all. For an end-of-the-week fiesta, my roomate and I are setting out to make this very famous (at Curious George bookstore at least) bunny into a birthday cake.

The book "Marshmallow", published by Harper Collins, is a classic re-release of an old Caldecott honor book, first published in 1942. If any of you are unfamiliar with Clare Turlay Newberry's illustrations, take a moment to find her images and hunt her books down (though most are out of print). The moment you open "Marshmallow" you will know why I immediately set my heart on making the protagonist into a cake! Her charcoal bunny gestures are flawless and downright yummy.

Onward with work and life, photos to come!

P.S. Does anyone know where I can buy pink dusty sugar to brush into the ears and nose?

Portfolio Makeover 2008

It has been so busy and continues to be! One of the exciting things that is underway is my portfolio makeover (big thank you's to Shannon folks!) The entire thing has been updated, including art, bio, art order, and deleted old college work. I am missing 4-5 newest pieces, which will go up this week, but check it out if you are strolling through the web: Shannon Associates

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
<3

Emily McDougal

I love this time of year. It's a flip-in-your-stomach/fresh-start-feeling. We are back to work, there's hope on the horizon, it's a new year to get to know. I feel like I might be good friends with 2008. My room and workspace has been changed for the better and I'm readying it for the picture book ahead! I hope you've been settling into the new year too (and depending on your location, maybe a bit of this winter thaw).

Here is a piece of the cover I am working on for the Sleepover Squad, I zoomed in and pulled Emily McDougal (of the Squad) and her sleeping bag out before I polish and shine and flatten the whole piece, squeaky clean. I liked Emily here in her gritty green and red so I scooped her out for you. Till next time :)

Joy.

See, the snow is right up to the back door! It's been snowing so much before Christmas here, but the pre-Christmas snow still has that magic, I'm not grumbling yet. I am holiday-busy as I am sure we all are, so I am just popping in to wish everyone a beautiful Christmastime.

Today, I had a lot of fun with an old and dear friend from art school, Elizabeth, trudging through slush like twin eskimos (we are both on the short side with giant fur hoods and we laugh at pretty much everything) in search of a restaurant lunch together, which we were set on having (no matter what!) before we parted ways to our regions for the holiday.

By the time I braved the snow back up hill to home, my roomate, Jessica, an opera singer at the New England Conservatory, was waiting for me in her snowpants at the front door. So we got our artistic heads together and created Sal, the loveable snowman on a lawnchair in our tiny yard (he's named after our amiable landlord of course) and FYI: His mouth is made of Twizzlers. We played outside until it was dark. Here are some shots from the day. I am off to Connecticut for Christmas once again!

A beautiful Holiday and New Year to you <3

Silke's Pigeons

Hey everyone! I have been busy away from the computer. Working on (stories, assignments, ideas), soaking in (new art, old and dear traditions, friends) and settling in (to winter) with sweaters and twinkle lights.

The Robert's Snowflake endeavor is ended as of Friday, and I got to stop by Grace Lin's for her end-of-snowflake party. Awesome people, awesome cookies (frosted dalmatians), and my first experience with the Wii!

So! Here is Silke on her pigeon high wire. I am still working on the lower portion (the city). Her name I gleaned from a customer conversation at the bookstore that I heard and quickly scribbled down on scrap paper. It is pronounced Sil-kuh, and it is German and is also common in places like Amsterdam and the likes. It's watercolor, pencil, and digital collage. The line is from a story that is waiting to be finished. She came right out of the paper. No other way to describe it.

This Sunday

Whew, Friday already! Some news:

Jules and Eisha of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast are having me on their blog's illustrator feature this Sunday! I'm quite honored :)

The Hallmark Hall of Fame movie is on CBS on Sunday night, Pictures of Hollis Woods, with some of my 12-year-old inspired artwork in the opening scenes. See the link.

Also on Sunday, I am excited to check out Paper and Chocolate, to see the works of friend E.B. Goodale in her printmaking/letterpress element. If you are in the Somerville MA area, it would be worth it to pop in- for framed prints, chocolate (from participating chocolatier) and magic.

Monday my snowflake goes up for auction over at Dana Farber. I'm in the third and last wave of snowflakes. Check the last bunch out before they fly away!

Sunday looks fun. It is also the first day of Advent. I will be able to open my new Advent calendar's very first little window. <3

Sigur Ros : Glosoli

I rarely, if ever, post a movie or imbedded object, but this object is worth your time! I am continually brought inspiration by this music video for Sigur Ros' "Glosoli", and always deeply moved. It is hard to even put into words what happens to me when I take in the quiet yet crescendo-climbing melody, the native/Icelandic inspired aesthetic, the roles and characterization of each child, and the archetypes all over the place, blended so truly together.

Something about it speaks strongly to my insides, in a language I can understand perfectly, though ironically the lyrics are in Icelandic... It is a powerful little video, take a peek, if you wish. Now THIS is some fuel for character design!!